Group Formed in Defense
of Referendum Vote
Upset over the slow
process and stalling of
some legislators in
approving the parallel
laws required to put
into effect the Tratado
de Libre Comercio (TLC)
- free trade agreement
with the United States -
a group has formed a
movement in defense of
the referendum that
approved the TLC.
The movement called -
Defensa del Referendo -
is calling on all Costa
Ricans to urge
legislators to respect
the will of the people
that voted in favour of
the trade deal in the
referendum of last
October 7.
Under the theme "The
Public Has Decided" the
group is looking for all
Costa Ricans - not just
those who voted "si",
but also who voted "no"
- to obligate the
politicians to respect
the will of the people.
Before the TLC can go
into effect on March 1,
2008, legislators have
to approve a series of
laws that would
strengthen state
institutions against
competition called
"agenda de
implementación".
The group is asking
Costa Ricans to send
legislators a far or
email. A draft letter
can be obtained on the
group's website at
www.defensadelreferendum.com.
The group is independent
of another movement "Movimiento
Por Costa Rica" which
has been maintaining a
media campaign urging
legislators to respect
the will of the people.
Following the October 7
referendum where the "Si"
vote won by a slight
margin over the "No",
legislators faced
approving 12 laws. So
far only four of the
laws have been approved
with less than five
weeks before the March 1
deadline.
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